June 29, 2025 - Isaiah 1-4

How sinful Judah and Jerusalem were, “from the sole of the foot even to the head” (1:6).  Yet, how God pleaded with them:  “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.  Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:  though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (1:16-18).  And even when the Lord threatens judgment, it is for cleansing and health:  “I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy” (1:25).

There will come a day “when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst” (4:4).   Judah and Jerusalem have one hope.  That hope is their God, who will be merciful and gracious.  Our hope is the same!

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Grace, grace, God’ grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!   -- Julia H. Johnston (1910)